In the past year, the Ethereum mainchain seems to have been neglected by the market, with a large amount of funds flowing into low-cost Layer 2 networks such as ARB, OP, and STRK. However, since July, the market sentiment seems to be quietly changing, and several key signals are worth our follow:

First, institutional funds are returning to the Ethereum market. In July, ETF net inflows reached an astonishing $2.12 billion, indicating renewed interest from Wall Street in Ethereum.

Secondly, large institutions are significantly increasing their holdings of Ethereum. SharpLink made a large purchase of 480,000 ETH, with a total value close to 1 billion USD, and will use all of it for staking, demonstrating confidence in the long-term development of Ethereum.

Third, new investment tools are constantly emerging. Bitmine launched a $250 million ETH fund, whose stock price increased 30 times in just a few days, reflecting the market's enthusiastic pursuit of Ethereum-related investment products.

Finally, the market demand continues to rise, even attracting a large number of overseas investors to buy Ethereum, further boosting the market heat.

Despite the various criticisms Ethereum has faced in the past, the current funding situation resembles the excitement before a bull market. With the arrival of August, will the Ethereum mainchain see a true breakout? Let's wait and see.

This series of changes indicates that, although layer two networks once stole the spotlight, the importance of Ethereum as an infrastructure has not diminished. On the contrary, with the return of institutional investors and the emergence of new investment tools, Ethereum may be preparing for the next wave of mass adoption. However, investors still need to be cautious and closely monitor market trends and potential risks.